Cafe Cambria -- Cambria, CA (Mediterranean cuisine)

A surprising hidden gem in the heart of this very small town. Located at 2282 Main Street, lies some of the most fragrant and most flavorful food in an area full of American and Italian. Nothing wrong with those options, but after several meals in a row of, what seemed like, similar taste profiles, I needed something different. 

The kitschy decor and fast-casual feel led me to have moderate expectations. But I was steered astray. As soon as I took my first taste, I knew I was in for something special. At the helm was one man, who was professional and quick, as he was the host, the cook and the waiter. All the same, he answered all my questions, and his demeanor let me know he was proud of what he dished out.



https://cambriacafe.com/


Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

Stuffed Grape Leaves. These preserved, fragrant grape leaves were filled with seasoned cooked rice, onion, black pepper and fresh herbs. The additional fresh parsley and lemon made this a savory and aromatic appetizer. This was a seemingly simple dish that required time and patience and care to not rip the delicate leaves and have the perfect balance of flavors during the long-stewing cooking process.

Vegetarian Platter. This was advertised as a great option for vegetarians, but I would say anyone who enjoys really flavorful non-meat, Mediterranean food, such as myself, would also enjoy this. The fresh tabouleh had a nice lemon zing, with all the aromatics of fresh parsley, tomato, onion, bulgur wheat, spices and olive oil. The falafel was, hands down, the best falafel I've ever tasted. It was a Syrian version, which I've never had, and it had such a nice crunch on the outside, a finer crumb, soft and fluffy on the inside and seasoned perfectly. The fried pita chips were thin and crisp and worked well to balance the tangy pickles and sopped up the creamy hummus. A small, but noticeable, standout item was the "toum", which was emulsified garlic sauce on the side. Other, less authentic, restaurants will just add some garlic to yogurt and call it "garlic sauce", but this was true garlic sauce, with nothing but whipped garlic, salt, lemon juice and olive oil. 

 

VIP Combo. An excellent platter of the Shish Tauke Beef Kebab (cubes of beef), Kafta Kebab (minced beef), and Shish Tauke Chicken Kebab (cubed chicken breast). Each cut was marinated with onion, herbs and spices and every bite was juicy, seasoned well, and gave us a great experience of these flavors. The yellow rice soaked up the juices nicely and the fresh salad and hummus added a nice balance to this hearty dish. 

I am definitely looking forward to coming back and trying out all the other items on the menu. This is an exemplary version of these dishes and it's surprising that the bigger metropolitan area, where I live, does not have a Mediterranean restaurant that can live up to this new standard for me.